Ashenden

Grantley Caypor

Ashenden is assigned to surveil and ultimately betray Grantley Caypor, a suspected German spy, during a mission.

Giulia Lazzari

Ashenden becomes romantically entangled with Giulia Lazzari, a beautiful Italian woman who is also a spy.

R.

R is Ashenden's superior in British intelligence, giving him orders and assignments throughout the war.

The Hairless Mexican

Ashenden works alongside the Hairless Mexican, a flamboyant and dangerous agent, on a mission to assassinate a traitor.

Anastasia Alexandrovna Leonidov

Anastasia Alexandrovna Leonidov and Ashenden are fellow intelligence operatives who collaborate on missions.

The Baroness von Higgins

Ashenden encounters the Baroness von Higgins as a social acquaintance in the expatriate community, though she is also a suspected spy.

Sir Herbert Witherspoon

Sir Herbert Witherspoon is a British diplomat who interacts with Ashenden in the context of intelligence work.

Gustav

Gustav is a Swiss hotel manager who assists Ashenden with logistical arrangements during his espionage activities.

The General

The General is a high-ranking military officer who coordinates with Ashenden on intelligence matters.

Manuel Carmona

Manuel Carmona is a Spanish agent who works with Ashenden on a mission involving the Hairless Mexican.

Chandra Lal

Chandra Lal is an Indian revolutionary and spy whom Ashenden is tasked with monitoring and manipulating.

Prince Ali

Prince Ali is a Middle Eastern prince involved in political intrigue whom Ashenden observes and interacts with.

Ashenden

The protagonist and narrator, a British author recruited as a spy.

R.

A writer by profession, recruited into the secret service by R. He is skeptical of R.'s anecdote, noting it is a tired cliché from fiction.

II: A Domiciliary Visit

Narrator and protagonist; returns from France, recalls foiling a burglary plot, and handles a blackmail attempt by Bernard.

III: Miss King

Lying in his bath, reflecting on his play and the police scare; later summoned to Miss King's bedside, where he grapples with the possibility that she has a secret to impart.

IV: The Hairless Mexican

Accompanies the Hairless Mexican to Naples; given the task of providing funds for the mission; observes the Mexican's dangerous and flamboyant nature.

The Dark Woman

Travels with the Hairless Mexican, loses at piquet, and reflects on the mission.

VI: The Greek

Arrives in Naples, enjoys the city, and later decodes the telegram revealing the fatal mistake.

VII: A Trip to Paris

Reflects on his boredom and routine in Geneva, travels to Paris for orders, and discusses the moral implications of their mission with R.

VIII: Giulia Lazzari

Delivers news of the lover's death, grants Giulia temporary freedom, and later arranges her return to England.

IX: Gustav

Sent to Basle to investigate Gustav; confronts Gustav about his fabricated reports and attempts to recruit him as a double agent.

Behind the Scenes

Sent to X on a secret mission, he navigates the delicate politics of espionage and diplomacy, eventually winning over the British ambassador.

XII: His Excellency

Dines with Sir Herbert Witherspoon; feels misgiving and shy; listens to the ambassador's personal confession.

XIII: The Flip of a Coin

Torn by the moral decision of whether to authorize a sabotage that will kill Galician Poles; recalls a past conversation with R. about assassination; ultimately resorts to a coin flip.

XIV: A Chance Acquaintance

Arrives in Vladivostok for a major mission to Petrograd; feels excited and confident but also forlorn; endures the company of Mr. Harrington with mixed irritation and affection.

Love and Russian Literature

Arrives in Petrograd, weary and solitary, tasked with a critical secret mission to prevent Russia from making a separate peace.

XVI: Mr. Harrington’s Washing

Reunites with Anastasia Alexandrovna and enlists her help; translates coded messages; witnesses Mr. Harrington's fixation on his laundry.